Motion-picture machine



VJ. GRANZ.

MOTION PCTURE MACHINE.

APPLICATloN HLED APR.25, 1919.

m f n M 1 n a 0., m lm 7 .Mk 2 e G m W m 7m l. GHANZ.

MOTION PICTURE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.25,1919.

Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

tion of becoming [EJNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

Application filed April 25, 1919. Serial No. 292,573.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I JOSEPH GizANz, a citizen of Austria, who has declared his intena citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Duluth, in the county of St. Louis, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motion-Picture Machines, of which the following'is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of motion picture machines in which a strip of picture film is intermittently fed through the light path of the machine, and has for its ob`ect:-

lo provide a simple and effective structural formation and association of parts, such that in case ofmaiimaccidental firing of the film at tlieliglit aperture of the machine, the confiagration will be confined to a local space behind the film, and the spreading of the fire beyond the light aperture and into the film magazine prevented in a very efiicient manner without interference with the easy and convenient threading and unthreading of the film into and from its operative position in the film feeding mechanism, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

ln the accompanying drawings Figure 1, is a detail longitudinal sectional elevation illustrating the general associa-- tion of' parts in the preferred form of the present improvement.

Fig. 2, is an enlarged detail longitudinal action on line 2*2, Fig. 3.

Fig. is a detail transverse sectional eleiation on line ac3-903, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4. is a detail horizontal section on .line .Timm/4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5, is an enlarged longitudinal secf Ional elevation illustrating the arrangement and, positions of the parts.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts in the several views.

The general arrangement of parts of the niotioii picture machine, its film guiding plate, film confining gate and accessories shown in the present application are substantially the same as that described in my prior application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 285,(58, filed March 28th 1919, and referring to the drawings l designates the remote stationary vertical side wall of the inclosing housing of the machine, and on which wall the film guiding and feeding mechanisms and parts are mounted and journaled.

V2 designates the stationary front wall of the machine housing and having fixed relation to the side wall l aforesaid.

3 designates the rear wall of the machine housing connected to the rear end of the aforesaid stationary wall 1 by a vertical hinge 4.- and adapted to swing rearwardly in relation to said wall l and the motion picture mechanisms and parts mounted thereon.

5 designates the side wall of the machine housing preferably attached to and moving with the aforesaid rear wall 3 so as to give a full exposure of the above mentioned mechanisms and parts.

6 and 7 designate contiguous portions of the upper and lower film magazines of the usual drum form and fixedly secured to the upper and lower ends of the stationary side wall 1 aforesaid. The magazines 6 and 7 are adapted to receive in a removable and replaceable manner the Jfilm reels 8 and 9,

and are provided with tangentially arranged film apertures which open into the chamber of the machine housing in vertically alined relation to the film supply and film take-up drum of the machine.

10 designates the front lens member or objective secured to the stationary front wall 2 of the machine housing and on the optical center of the same.

1l designates a portion of the rear lens member or condenser, preferably mounted on the swinging rear wall 3 of the machine housing in the manner set forth in m prior application for Letters Patent, Serial No.

285,760, filed March 28th, 1919.

12 designates an aperture shell secured to the swinging rear wall 3 of the machine housing, with its aperture arranged on the optical center of the machine and controlled by a hinged valve or gate 13, as described in detail in my aforesaid application, -Serial No. 285,758.

14 designates guide necks or throats formed by approved pads of fibrous or like elastic material and arranged at the above described film apertures of the film magazines 6 and 7, in order to prevent a local combustion of the film in the chamber of the machine housing extending into the film magazines.

15 designates the film supply sprocket drum arranged in the upper rear portion of the machine housing, and 16 designates the film take up sprocket lower rear portion of said housing. The said drums 15 and 16 are disposed in verdrum arranged in the' tical alinement with each other and with `the guide throats 14; above described.

17 designates the intermittently actua-ted film feeding sprocket drum arranged fors 'ward of the drums 15 and 16 aforesaid..r

158 and 19 designate pluralities of bearing rollers individual to the sprocket drums 15 and 16 and adapted to bear against the picture lm and hold the same in proper opllo-erative engagement with said sprocket l drums. Said earing rollers 18, 19, are movable away from said sprocket drums to admit of easy threading and unthreading of the picture film into and from the mecha- 15 nism, and to such end the rollers 18, 19 are `revolubly mounted at one end on swinging frames 20 and 21 pivoted on journal pin 20 and 21 on the fixed wall 1 of the machine housing. 20 22 designates the verticallyarranged and apertured guide plate by which the picture film is properly supported in its intermittent travel through the light path or optical center of the machine, and to such end said guide plate 22 is disposed between the film supply drum 15 and film take-up drum 16 as shown; and said apertured gurdeplate'is preferably of the detail (-:onstruction set forth in my aforesaid prior application, Serial No. 285,759.

- 23 designates a pair. of gate members or Y sections, of a like construction to that set forth in my aforesaid application Serial No. 285,7 59, and hinged at opposite sides of lthe light aperture of the aforesaid gilide "'-plate 22 by vertically arranged spring structures 24, as'shown. Said gate members 2.3 carry bearing shoes 25 adapted for bearing ,Contact with the sides of the picture lm as 40 described in detail in said application Serial In' the present improvement 26 and 27 designate upper and lower transverse plate members, the main portions of which are arranged lin an approximately horizontal positionand fixed-ly attached to the swingingl frames 20'and 21 above described, to serve therewith.

26 and 27 designate angular extensions formed at, the forward end o-f the plate Amembers 26, 27 and extending in vertical vdirections toward the respective upper and lower magazines of the light aperture of the film guiding plate 22 above described and 5 adapted to bear against the passing picture film. In the present construction the width of the extensions 26', 27' is equal to the lateral space separating the pair of gate members 23 aforesaid and said extensions are 6J adapted to lie between the gate members as shown in Fig. 3.

angle plate formation shown. Said rails extend transversely of the machine housing and are so arranged as to provide receiving- 28 designate upperandi'loiwer rails of theA aware recesses for theorem` ends of the late menibers 26, 27 aforesaid. In the pre erred construction sh'oyw'n the rails 28 are secured to the respective upper and lower walls of the shell 12 aforesaid, and with the described 70 arrangement the upper and .lower plate members 26, 27 provide a sub-chamber at the rear of the picture film adapted to confine or localize an accidental combustion of the i film at' the light aperture of the machine. 75

Having thus fully described my said in' vention, what l clalni as 'new and desire te secure by Letters Patent, iszy 1. ln a motion picture machine, a machine housing, a film guide arranged in said hous- 8U ing and provided with a light aperture, means for feeding a picturefilm along said film uide, counterpartspring impelledgate memhers hinged to the film guideat the sides of its light aperture, and upper' and 65 lower movable plate members having vertical extensions'adapted to fit between the gate members above and below the light aperture aforesaid, the main portions of said members having an approximately horizontal arrangement to provide a local sub chamber to the rear of the light aperture aforesaid, substantially as set forth.

21 In a motion picturemachine, a machine housing, a filmguide arranged. in saidhousing 'and provided with a light aperture, means for feeding a picture film along said film guide, counterpart springimpelled gate `mem ers hinged to the film guide at the sides of the li ht aperture, a transverse shell arranged to t e rear of saidlfight aperture and having a light opening controlled by a hinged valve, and upper and lowermovable plate members having vertical extensions adapted to flt between the gate members above andbelow the light aperture aforesaid,` the main portions of said members having an approxi-mately horizon-tal arrangement to provide in connection with the -aforesaid transverse shell a local sub-chamber to the rear ofthe light aperture of the film uide,'substantially as set forth.

3. n a motion picture machine, a machine housing, a film guide arranged in'said housing and provided with a light aperture, means for feeding a picture film along said.

A film guide, counterpart spring impeded gate 'members hinged to the film guide at the sides of its light aperture, a transverse shell arranged-to the -rear of said aperture and having a light lopening controlled by a hinged valve, transverse rails, secured to the upper and lower walls of said shells and upperA and lower movable plate members having vertical extensions adapted to lit between the gate members above and below the light aperture aforesaid, the main portion of said members having an approximately horizontal arrangement to provide in connection with the aforesaid transverse 4shell a local 130 ture vand kha ving -swinging frames carrying upper an y Ato maintain a l with said drums,

sub-chamber to the rear of the light aper` ture of the film guide, substantially as set forth. v

4. In a motion picture machine, a machine housing, a film ing and provided with a lightv aperture,

upper and lower film actuating drums having alined relationv to the said film guide, bearing rollers adapted to maintain a picture. film in en- Ygagement with said drums, counterpart spring impelled gate members hinged to the film guide at the sides of its aperture, and upper and lower plate membersl attached -to said Swingin frames and having vertical extensions a apted to fit between the gate' members above and belowthe light aperture aforesaid, the main portion of said members having an a proximately` .horizontal arrangement, su stantially as set forth.

In a motion picture machine, a machine housing, a film guide arranged in said housing and provided with a light aperture, upper and lower film actuating drums having alined relation to said film guide, swinging frames carrying bearing rollers adapted to maintain a picture film in engagement with said drums, counterpart spring impelled gate members hinged to the film guide at the sides of its light aperture, a transverse shell arranged to the rear of said light aperture and having a light opening controlled by a hinged valve, and upper and lowermovable late members havin vertical extensions adhpted to fit between t e gate members above and below the light aperture aforesaid, the main portions of said members having approximately horizontal arrangement, substantially as setforth.

6. In a motion picture machine, a machine housing, a film guide arranged in said housing and rovided with a light` aperture,

dp lower film actuatingdlums having alined relation to said film guide, swinging frames carrying bearing rollers adapted picture film Ain yengagement counterpart spring im- Y pelled gate nembers hinged to the film guide 'A at the sides of its light aperture, a transverse the rear of said light apershell arranged to a light opening controlled by "a hinged valve, transverse rails secured to the upper yand lower walls of said shell,

and upper and lower movable plate members 55 having vertical extensions adapted to fit between the gate members above and below the light aperture aforesaid, the main portion of said members having an approximately horizontal arrangement, substantially asv setforth.

7 In a motion picture machine, a machine housing having a stationary side wall, a rear wall hinged thereto, a film guide secured to said stationary wall and provided with a light aperture, upper and lower ilm gulde arranged 1n. said houslight aperture,

members attached actuating drums journaled on said stationary wall in vertically alined relation to said film guide, swinging frames on said stationary wall carrying bearing rollers adapted to maintain a picture film in engagement with said drums, counterpart spring impelled gate members hinged to the film guide at the sides of its light aperture, and upper and lower plate members attached to said swinging frames and having vertical extensions adapted to fit between the gate members above and below the light aperture aforesaid, the main portion of said members having an approximately horizontal arrangement, substantially as set forth.

8. In a motion picture machine, a machine housing having a stationary 'side wall, a rear' wall hinged thereto, a film guide secured to said stationary wall and provided with a upper -and lower film actuating drums journaled on said stationary wall in vertically alined relation to'said film guide, swinging frames on said stationary 'wall carrying bearing rollers and adapted to maintain a picture film in engagement with said drums, counterpart spring impelled gate members hinged to the guide at the sides of its light a shell arranged to the rear of said light aperture and having a light opening controlled bya hinged valve, and upper and lower plate to said swinging frames and having vertical extensions adapted to fit between the gate members above and below the light aperture aforesaid, the main portions of sald members having an approximately horizontal arrangement, substantially as set forth.

9. In a motionpicture machine, a machine housing havinga stationary wall, a rear wall hinged thereto, a film guide secured to said stationary wall andprovided with a light aperture, upper and lower film actuating drums journaled on said stationa wall in vertically alined relation to sai film guide, swinging frames on said stationary wall carrying bearing rollers adapted to maintain a picture film in engagement with said drums, counterpart spring impelled gate -members hinged to the film guide at the sides of its 'light aperture, a transverse shell arranged to therear vof said light aperture and having a light opening controlled'by a hinged valve, transverse rails secured to the upper and lower walls of said shell and upper and lower plate members attached to said swinging frames and-having vertical extensions adapted to fit between the' gate ymembe ture aforesaid, the main portions of said members having an approximately horizontal arrangement, substantially as set forth. Signed at uluth, Minn., this 21st day of April, 1919.

` y JOSEPH GRANZ.

perture, a transverse rs above and below the light aper- 

